Assemblyman recognizes Columbia Middle School teacher

Rene Ray De La Cruz Staff Writer @DP_ReneDeLaCruz

Monday

Mar 5, 2018 at 3:43 PMMar 5, 2018 at 3:43 PM

ADELANTO — Teacher Lauren Bailey was surprised when Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, school staff and district leaders burst into her classroom with flowers and news that she was being named Teacher of the Month by the state legislator.

A seventh-grade teacher at Columbia Middle School in the Adelanto Elementary School District, Bailey was assisting students with assignments when the group entered her room on Friday.

“I represent over 20,000 square miles and over 1,000 different schools, and once a month we recognize one outstanding teacher of the month,” Obernolte told the class. “We’re looking for teachers that are dedicated and committed to advancing the lives or their students.”

Bailey’s dedication and passion for her students is shown by her ability to help each student excel through curriculum and the AVID College Readiness System that teaches students fundamental learning, study and academic behavioral skills, along with various academic strategies, Obernolte said.

Bailey’s students voiced their amazement when Obernolte shared how their teacher commutes nearly 100 miles to work each day from her home in the Long Beach area.

"This is really a labor of love, and I really do care about the kids and their success,” said Bailey, who is a certified AVID teacher and language arts core instructor.

“This is a challenging district for so many reasons, but I totally believe in our students and what they can do,” Bailey said.

Bailey added she’s “not always popular” with her students, but she “pushes” them so they can reach their full potential in the classroom and in life.

“I’m really proud of you guys and everything that you’re doing,” Bailey told her students. “You know that it takes a lot of hard work and dedication, and I know that you’re going to do your best to reach your potential.”

Because of the number of outstanding teachers in the district, AESD officials found it difficult to nominate one teacher for the award, Superintendent Amy Nguyen-Hernandez told the Daily Press.

“Ms. Bailey is one of our teachers on our Stand Alignments System work and she is an outstanding participant in that work,” Nguyen-Hernandez said. “She is also positive and she communicates well to our teachers to bring that work to life. These are the reasons why she was nominated for this award.”

Columbia Principal Richard Upshaw praised Baily for her nine years of service to the district and remarked that her leadership in the AVID program has helped the school become an AVID demonstration site.

“She is also one of the teacher trainers who helps train our new teachers and exposes them to our curriculum and good teaching strategies,” Upshaw said. “She’s one of the many teachers who has helped students at Columbia Middle School to succeed.”